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England fought fire with fire as the Ashes began with low scores and high drama on a 19-wicket opening day in Perth. The tourists chose to bat first on a spicy greentop and were shot down for 172 in less than 33 overs as Mitchell Starc steamed in to take career-best figures of seven for 58. It was a nightmarish start to one of the most hotly anticipated series in a generation, with ducks for Zak Crawley and linchpin Joe Root as well as collapse of five for 12 to end the innings.

But England's bowlers were red hot at a ground that is known locally as 'the Furnace', dragging Australia down to 123 for nine as captain Ben Stokes bagged five for 23. Jofra Archer felled debutant Ja

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